Fully-emptying valve assemblage

ABSTRACT

An aerosol valve assemblage comprising a tubular valve housing for disposition within a container, said housing having an end inlet opening and carrying a collector cup the rim and adjoining portions of which are slightly spaced from the valve housing and sealing gasket thereon. The said spacing constitutes a collecting area into which the last amount of liquid product can collect, to be dispensed through the valve housing when the container is in inverted position.

Unite States atet 172 l lmcnlur Wolf Steiman Fairfield. Conn. Ill App].No 828,122 [221 Filed May 27. 1969 [45] Patented Feb. 2, 1971 [73]Assignee Valve Corporation of America Bridgeport, Conn. a corporation ofDelaware [54] FULLY-EMPTYING VALVE ASSEMBLAGE 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 222/402.2, 222/377 [51 Int. Cl 865d 83/14 [50] Field ofSearch 222/377, 454, 455. 457, 402.2

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,781,954 2/1957 Bretz222/4022 2.977028 3/1961 Joffe 222/454 3.176887 4/1965 Potapenko et211.. 222/402.2 3352464 ll/l967 Frangos 222/4022 3,385.482 5/1968Frangos 222/4022 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves AssistantExaminer-John P. Shannon Att0rney-H. Gibner Lehmann ABSTRACT: An aerosolvalve assemblage comprising a tubular valve housing for dispositionwithin a container, said housing having an end inlet opening andcarrying a collector cup the rim and adjoining portions of which areslightly spaced from the valve housing and sealing gasket thereon. Thesaid spacing constitutes a collecting area into which the last amount ofliquid product can collect, to be dispensed through the valve housingwhen the container is in inverted position.

PATENTED FEB 2|97| 3559.851

i" F J 76 46 I INVENTOR.

WOW sieunam FULLY-EMPTYING VALVE ASSEMBLAGE BACKGROUND This inventionrelates to valves of aerosol dispensers, and more particularly tofully-emptying valves of the type disposed within the bottle orcontainer for the product.

Prior fully-emptying aerosol valves were either disposed outside of thecontainer where they undesirably occupied space needed for otherpurposes, or else if disposed inside the container were not entirelyeffective in enabling the last remnants of the liquid product to beexpelled.

SUMMARY The foregoing drawbacks and disadvantages of prior fullyemptyingvalves are obviated by the present invention, one object being theprovision of an improved aerosol valve assemblage for disposition withina container, which assemblage in a simple and uncomplicated manner caneffectively remove virtually all of the liquid product from thecontainer. This is accomplished by applying to the usual or conventionalopen-bottorn type valve housing a liquid-collector cup which effects astorage space adjacent the sealing gasket of the housing, and effects aconduit or passage from said space to the intake opening of the housing.The storage space has a far-reaching capillary action by which it takesup the last portions of the liquid product when the container isinverted, bringing these into the valve housing for discharge therefrom.

Other objects of the invention reside in the provision of an improvedvalve assemblage as above, which has a one-piece component arranged tobe readily applied as an attachment to existing valve housing, saidcomponent being especially simple, economical to produce, readily moldedof plastic substance, and effective and reliable in its operation.

Still other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary axial sectional view of the upper portion of anaerosol dispenser in nonuse or storage condition, incorporating theimproved valve assemblage of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view like that of FIG. 1, but showing the dispenser in itsinverted position with the valve assemblage in the dischargingcondition.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the fully-emptying component or attachmentof the improved valve assemblage.

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view of the fully-emptying attachment,taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

The valve assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a valve of thewell known metering type, comprising a valve stem having multiplevalving elements whereby a sequential valving action is had to effectthe metering. However, for the purposes of the present invention awell-known type of nonmetering valve may be utilized as well, since theinvention has utility for both metering and nonmetering types of valves.

The valve stem 10 is slidably carried in a generally tubular valvehousing 12 comprising a tubular upper body portion 14 and a tubularlower body portion 16, said body portions having between them anexternal flat annular mounting flange 18. The lower body portion 16 hasa tip or extremity 20 of reduced diameter, forming an external annularshoulder 22 for purposes later to be brought out. Surrounding andengaging with the upper body portion 14 and mounting flange 18 is aninverted metal mounting cup 24 having a central raised portion 26closely fitted to the upper body portion 14 of the valve housing. Thecup portion 26 is apertured to accommodate the valve stem 10, and clampsa valve seat or diaphragm 28 against the top end of the valve housing asshown.

The lower body portion 16 of the valve housing has a stepped bore 30, 32in which there is formed an internal annular shoulder 34 engaged with avalve seat comprising a rgsilient washer 36 and a stiff washer 38, thelatter being engaged by a helical compression coil spring 40 which alsoen gages a valve shoulder 42 on the stem 10. The upper stem portion,above the valve shoulder 42, is hollow, and has a side aperture 44normally disposed above the valve seat or diaphragm 28. Thus. for theFIG. I position of the valve assemblage the valve shoulder 42, held inengagement with the seat 28 by the spring 40, prevents discharge ofliquid product from the dispenser. However, when the stem 10 isdepressed or pushed inward as illustrated in FIG. 2, the side opening 44of the stem is shifted past the valve seat 28, thereby permitting theliquid contents within the valve housing 12 to be discharged through the(upper) hollow portion of the stem 10 and through a usual type ofmouthpiece 46 shown in broken outline.

The lower portion of the valve stem 10 has a flat 48 on one side,whereby a second valving action is had in conjunction with the washers36, 38 to close off the valve housing from the contents of the containerat the time that the valve stem is depressed to place the upper valve42, 28 in the open condition. A metering action is thus had, as is wellknown in the art, which accordingly requires no further explanationherein except to note that the upper and lower valves open and closealternately during the axial movement of the stem 10.

The valve housing 12 has an inlet opening 50 in its lower tip portion20, through which the liquid product from the container 52 passes toreach the interior of the housing.

The metal mounting cup 24 clamps an annular sealing element or washer 54between the mounting flange 18 of the valve housing and the top rim 56of the container. The sealing washer 54 fits snugly about the bodyportion 16 of the valve housing as shown.

In accordance with the present invention, a simple and unique,advantageous attachment is provided to be carried by the lower body 16of the valve housing 12 for the purpose of enabling the liquid contentsof the container 52 to be fully emptied when the container is ininverted, discharging position with the valve stem 10 depressed asillustrated in FIG. 2. The said attachment comprises a collector cup 58which surrounds and is carried by the depending portion of the valvehousing 12, comprising the body parts 16, 20. The collector cup 58 hasits rim and adjoining portions 60, 62 respectively disposed to be freeof and spaced from the valve housing 12 and the sealing washer or gasket54, whereby it forms therewith an annular storage space 64, 66 fordrawing in and collecting the liquid product of the dispenser. Thecollector cup 58 also has means providing a conduit, comprising aninternal groove 68 which effects communication between the annularstorage space 64, 66 and the intake opening 50 of the valve housing 12.The cup 58 has a stepped bore as clearly seen in the FIGS., comprising asmall-diameter portion 70 which is adapted to frictionally fit and seizethe tip part 20 of the valve housing 12 and a large-diameter portion 72which encircles the body part 16 of the valve housing in spaced relationthereto, to provide the storage space 66. The cup 58 has a bottom wall74 and an internal shoulder 76 which is engageable with the externalshoulder 22 of the valve housing 12 for the purpose of properlypositioning the cup 58 on the housing to establish the annular storagespace 64 between the rim 60 of the cup and the sealing gasket 54. Itwill be noted that the internal groove 68 of the collector cup extendsinto the smalldiameter bore portion of the cup whereby the grooveprovides a degree of yieldability to the cup, enabling a press-fit to bereadily established with the tip part 20, without resorting to criticaltolerances. Both the cup 58 and the valve housing 12 are molded ofplastic substance having a certain degree of resilience or yieldability,as will be understood.

The annular storage space 64, 66 is sufficiently small or narrow insection to have a capillary action whereby liquid which is in contactwith the sealing gasket 54 will be drawn into the storage space, andinto the conduit or groove 68. Accordingly, it will be understood whenconsidering FIG. 2 where the container is inverted, that by virtue ofthe shape and disposition of the collector cup 58 and the capillaritymentioned above the valve assembly will be able to discharge virtuallyall of the liquid contents of the container. The last remaining portionsof the liquid will collect above the gasket 54 (with the containerinverted) whereupon such portions will flow into the storage space 64,66 and the conduit 68. so as to be discharged into the valve housing 12and ultimately from the depressed stem and mouthpiece 46.

it will be seen that the valve assemblage comprising the onepiececollector cup or component 58 has a number of advantages. lt not onlyprovides for economical utilization of all of the liquid contents of thecontainer 52. but the cup 58 may be readily applied as an attachment toan existing valve housing, is especially simple, economical to produce,readily molded of plastic substance, and is also effective and reliablein its operation. The provision of the collector cup 58 does notinterfere with the assemblage of the valve to the container 52, and doesnot require a special arrangement wherein the valve housing is locatedexternally of the container neck.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of theinvention.

I claim:

1. A valve assemblage for an aerosol dispenser, comprising incombination:

a. a tubular valve housing;

b. a sealing gasket extending around the valve housing;

c. said housing including a depending portion having an intake opening,disposed below said gasket;

d. a collector cup surrounding and carried by said depending portion;

e. said cup having its rim and adjoining portions free of and spacedfrom said housing and said sealing gasket and forming therewith anannular storage space for liquid product of the dispenser;

f. said cup having a conduit effecting communication between saidannular storage space and the intake openmg of the valve housing; and

g said annular storage space serving to collect the last remainingportions of the liquid product when the dispenser is inverted with thevalve housing lowermost.

2. A valve assemblage as in claim 1, wherein:

a. the depending portion of the valve housing comprises areduced-diameter tip part and a larger-diameter body part adjoining thetip part. said depending portion having an annular external shoulder atthe juncture of said tip part and body part; and

b. said collector cup having a stepped bore forming an internal annularshoulder engaged with the shoulder of the valve housing, thereby toposition the rim of the cup in said spaced relation to the sealinggasket.

3. A valve assemblage as in claim 2, wherein:

a. the collector cup rim and adjoining portions surround said bodyportion of the valve housing and have a larger bore diameter than theremainder of the cup, said conduit of the cup comprising a groovedisposed in the stepped bore and extending from the rim to the cupbottom.

4. A valve assemblage as in claim 3, wherein:

a. the intake opening of the valve housing is at the end of saidreduced-tip part; and

b. the bottom wall of the collector cup being spaced from said tip partand communicating with said groove.

5. A valve assemblage as in claim 3, wherein:

a. the collector cup is press-fitted on the reduced-diameter tip part ofthe valve housing; and

b. said groove of the cup enabling the latter to yield slightly duringsaid press-fitting.

1. A valve assemblage for an aerosol dispenser, comprising incombination: a. a tubular valve housing; b. a sealing gasket extendingaround the valve housing; c. said housing including a depending portionhaving an intake opening, disposed below said gasket; d. a collector cupsurrounding and carried by said depending portion; e. said cup havingits rim and adjoining portions free of and spaced from said housing andsaid sealing gasket and forming therewith an annular storage space forliquid product of the dispenser; f. said cup having a conduit effectingcommunication between said annular storage space and the intake openingof the valve housing; and g. said annular storage space serving tocollect the last remaining portions of the liquid product when thedispenser is inverted with the valve housing lowermost.
 2. A valveassemblage as in claim 1, wherein: a. the depending portion of the valvehousing comprises a reduced-diameter tip part and a larger-diameter bodypart adjoining the tip part, said depending portion having an annularexternal shoulder at the juncture of said tip part and body part; and b.said collector cup having a stepped bore forming an internal annularshoulder engaged with the shoulder of the valve housing, thereby toposition the rim of the cup in said spaced relation to the sealinggasket.
 3. A valve assemblage as in claim 2, wherein: a. the collectorcup rim and adjoining portions surround said body portion of the valvehousing and have a larger bore diameter than the remainder of the cup,said conduit of the cup comprising a groove disposed in the stepped boreand extending from the rim to the cup bottom.
 4. A valve assemblage asin claim 3, wherein: a. the intake opening of the valve housing is atthe end of said reduced-tip part; and b. the bottom wall of thecollector cup being spaced from said tip part and communicating withsaid groove.
 5. A valve assemblage as in claim 3, wherein: a. thecollector cup is press-fitted on the reduced-diameter tip part of thevalve housing; and b. said groove of the cup enabling the latter toyield slightly during said press-fitting.